What Makes A Wine Expensive? The 3 Wine Price Factors – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

What Makes A Wine Expensive? The 3 Wine Price Factors – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

What Makes A Wine Expensive? The 3 Wine Price Factors

• Fine Wine Blog • Most Expensive Wines • What Makes A Wine Expensive

What Makes A Wine Expensive?

The price of a wine reflects the cost of production, which includes the raw physical materials, such as grapes, other ingredients, barrels for aging, and bottles and labels for packaging.
High quality materials translate to a higher quality of wine, but also a higher price. In addition to the materials, the production method to move the grapes from the vineyard, to the barrels, to the bottles also needs to be considered.
Utilities add to the production cost, as does labour. A change in any one of these costs increases the end price of the wine – moreover, variables such as the grape yield (highly influenced by weather) will also affect production costs and are to be considered.
While many production factors interlace, three main aspects contribute to a wine’s end price.

3 Main Wine Price Factors

1. Time

It is a widely known fact that high quality wine that is well-aged tastes rounder and smoother – qualities that are highly sought after among consumers.
Aging adds heavily to the production costs (think storage, labour, uncertainty in an unstable market) as the wine takes up space in a winery and costs money for maintenance.

2. Oak barrel aging

Aging high quality fine wine in oak barrels is favourable to any other aging method, leading to enhanced flavours and an overall better quality.
Oak barrels result in lost wine as it evaporates from the barrel, leaving less wine to be bottled. This is not to mention that oak itself is an expensive material, coming with the need of expert staff to maintain quality and perform periodical tastings of the wine.

3. Vineyard Locations

Wine produced from vineyards in famous locations that are known for their ability to produce outstanding wine consistently will cost more.
The proven track record of the most famous wine investment regions almost always command higher prices. As with most any other product, branding and quality assurance costs more.
Wines from developing countries tend to be cheaper than from developed countries (sometimes resulting in great value wines during certain vintages). This can be attributed both to a reduced cost of production (cheaper labour, etc.), but to the region’s lower profile too.
Other factors contributing to the price of fine wines that will influence it in the future are the rarity of a high quality vintage, as well as its ability to attract collectors (something famous wine regions such as Bordeaux and Rhone are well known for).

What Are The Most Expensive Wines?

Wine Searcher compiled the top 50 of the most expensive wines in the world, gleaned from almost 55.000 wine price lists and based on the average price of a 750ml bottle.
The most expensive wines in the world are overwhelmingly European, with the top 10 coming from France (8) and Germany (2). The Cote de Nuits of France commands 4 of the top 10 spots, while Cote de Beaune of France commands 2.
All of the top 10 have average prices over $3000, with most of them nearer to or exceeding $10.000. The most expensive wine in the world right now, a highly renowned Burgundy, can go for as much as $24.000.

Great Wine Collecting Alternatives

If you’re looking to celebrate with, collect, or invest in fine wines of high quality from the same renowned wine regions (but without the $24.000 price tag), the following recommendations meet the criteria and provide great value – without the highest of costs.
Our main suggestions hail from the Rhone Region. Especially noteworthy are the famous “La La” wines – such as the La Mouline (1989 vintage), La Landonne (1995 vintage, 2009 vintage), or La Turque (1988 vintage, 2005 vintage). You can check out more recommendations here in our online wine shop.
For any other fine wine related questions or queries – or if you’re interested in fine wine investment or collecting – please feel free to contact our experts at any time. And don’t forget to sign up for our monthly prize draw right now for your chance of winning fine wine worth £500.00!
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Wine Temperature Chart: Storage & Serving | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Wine Temperature Chart: Storage & Serving | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro

• Fine Wine Blog • Wine Serving • Wine Storage • Wine Temperature

The temperature of your wine is extremely important for your final tasting experience. By keeping track of your wine's temperature during both storage and serving, you’ll ensure you enjoy that highly acclaimed label at its very best.

Wine Temperatures: Storage & Serving

An incorrect wine storage temperature can damage the wine irreparably. Storing the wine at a stable, ideal temperature (10-16C for reds, and a bit lower for whites) preserves its flavour and taste and will allow it to later be served at an optimal serving temperature.
The wine’s serving temperature affects its aromas, flavour, and taste at the moment of serving. A wine that is served too warm will taste alcoholic, while a wine that is served too cold will lose its flavour.
A properly stored wine also needs to be served at the best temperature for its characteristics, which will usually be different to its storage temperature.
In general a low quality wine is best served a bit cooler than average, while high quality fine wines such as those in our online wine shop are best served a bit warmer.
But what is the best wine serving temperature for the bottle you’re looking at right now? It will depend on the wine’s characteristics, and we discuss the ideal wine serving temperatures for each type of wine below.

Red Wine Serving Temperature

Rich red wines should be served a little cool, most usually between 17-21C. A good example is this Château Le Petit Cheval, 2010 as well as other high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. The high tannins of these wines do best and mellow at the warmer temperature.
Light red wines (such as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel) should be served cool, most usually between 12-17C. Light, fruity weds can be served cooler to be more refreshing, or a bit warmer to enhance the flavours.
To achieve the ideal temperature of light reds, it is suggested that the wine be placed in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes or less before serving.

White Wine Serving Temperature

White wines should be served refrigerator-cooled, from 7-14C. A good example is this Chateau d'Yquem, 2006 as well as other Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay wines. The lighter and zestier the white wine, the further on the cool end it should be served.
Oaked wines should be served a bit warmer. Full-bodied white wines should be served warmer to take advantage of their complexity and aroma range. Depending on the desired temperature, the wine should be placed in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Champagne Serving Temperature

Sparkling wines such as Champagne should be served ice cold, from 5-10C. A good example is this Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, 2002 along with other Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava sparkling wines.
The chilling keeps bubbles fine and deliberate instead of frothy. To achieve this temperature, the champagne should be placed in the freezer for no more than 1 hour.

Last Minute Miracles

For urgent cases where you have less than an hour to prepare a wine that is not at the desired temperature, a few tips can save the day. The most important general rule is that if a wine tastes too alcoholic, it should be cooled. If there is not enough flavour, it should be warmed.
If a wine is too warm and needs to be cooled, it can be immersed in a bath of ice and cold water. A red wine should be submerged for 10 minutes, a white for approximately 20 minutes, and a bubbly for 30 minutes or up until serving.
If a wine is too cold, it can be decanted into a warmed container, or immersed for a brief moment in warm water. Take care not to heat the wine directly, as this can destroy it.
When serving your wine it is better to start with a temperature a bit lower than desired, as the wine will always be easier to warm up in the glass when a hand cups it, as opposed to the hard task of further cooling it down.

No Wine to Cool Down?

Take a moment to check out our online wine shop, where a range of the world’s best fine wines is literally at your fingertips – be it for serving, collection, or even investment.
If you have any other wine-related questions, our experts are here to help. Just write us a short message or give us a call – our team always responds promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Steven

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What Is Bordeaux Famous For? | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

What Is Bordeaux Famous For? | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

What Is Bordeaux Famous For?

• Bordeaux Wine • Bordeaux Wine Region • Fine Wine Blog • What Is Bordeaux Famous For

What is Bordeaux famous for? A natural question about the most popular wine region today that every newcomer to the world of fine wine asks. And for good reason, given all the talk about it in this online community!
Bordeaux is famous for its red wines – of course – but is known for so much more! The World Heritage designation that this wine region has maintained over the last decade has increased interest in the region, but why? And what exactly is Bordeaux famous for, if not just red wine?

1. The Bordeaux region is famous for its shopping

The Rue Saint Catherine in the Bordeaux wine region boasts over a kilometre of fancy shops, bustling cafes, and beautiful shopping centres. The famous department store Galeries Lafayette – which resembles a royal palace – is known for being the longest shopping strip throughout Europe.
And of course, it goes without saying that the myriad vineyards and shops selling the region’s famous wine and foodstuffs are a main tourist attraction point in this region.

2. The Bordeaux region is famous for its beauty

Bordeaux lovers like to say that parts of Paris were modelled after Bordeaux, long known for its well-worn charm and pretty buildings.
An affectionate nickname for the city is Petit Paris (meaning Little Paris). With three beautiful universities, neat avenues, open squares, and ornate architecture, the city has an international vibe that inspires old school elegance.

3. The Bordeaux region is famous for its history

Wine has been grown in Bordeaux for thousands of years – since even before the Romans arrived. The city of Bordeaux is almost as old, and its wine has always been at the forefront of the economy.
The location of the city (near the port) allowed for easy commerce, and due to the control of the English, a major customer was England – who called the Bordeaux red wine “claret.”

4. Bordeaux wine is famous for amazing grape blends

All Bordeaux wine is made of region-specific grape blends. Red Bordeaux wines are nearly always blends of mainly Cabernet and Merlot – which are the main red varieties of the region. Other grapes (in smaller amounts) are grown and occasionally used as well – such as Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
A white Bordeaux wine is usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with the occasional Muscadelle in smaller quantities.
These grape blends resulted in impressive wine aromas that have been highly regarded consistently by wine connoisseurs.

5. Bordeaux wine is famous for consistent excellence

The wine-making process has been perfected in Bordeaux for thousands of years. Additionally, the two main grapes of the Bordeaux blend lend themselves to excellence.
Because the two dominant grapes have different ripening seasons, even if say Cabernet Sauvignon has a bad season, Merlot would not – and vice versa.
This provides consistency and reliability for all Bordeaux vintages, and helped secure the region’s popularity as one of the very best for wine investment and wine collecting.

6. Bordeaux is famous for the sheer amount of wine it produces

Producing four times as much wine as the second most famous region in France (Burgundy), Bordeaux is a production powerhouse.
It has over 250.000 acres of vines and over 20.000 wine producers in the region (though only about 100 are famous worldwide for making the region’s very best). In total, 850 million bottles are produced each year.

7. Bordeaux wine is even famous for its iconic bottles

The wine bottles of Bordeaux are iconic and highly recognizable around the world. With high, right-angled shoulders, you can’t mistake a bottle of Bordeaux for anything lesser.

What Is Bordeaux Famous For?

We hope our 7 reasons why Bordeaux is the most popular wine (and wine region) have helped answer your question! A history-making wine producer, Bordeaux is sure to have a wine in store that will fit neatly with your personal tastes.
Try one of Bordeaux’s world-famous wines from our online wine shop (click here), and have a piece of flavourful history brought right in front of your doorstep by our expert team! You can check out our best Bordeaux recommendations here to get you started.
If you have any wine-related questions or queries, please feel free to write us a quick message or give us a call at any time. Our fine wine experts always respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Muhamad


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Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine – Characteristics & Recommendations | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine – Characteristics & Recommendations | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine – Characteristics & Recommendations

• Champagne • Fine Wine Blog • Sparkling Wine

When it’s time to celebrate, the first beverage that comes to mind is something bubbly, elegant, and festive.
But how do you know whether to reach for the Champagne or the Sparkling Wine? Even more importantly – do you know the differences between the two?
One of the easiest to spot and biggest differences is the price – Champagne is almost without exception more expensive than the rest of the sparkling wines. But that is definitely not the main difference. Let’s explore what is!

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is made through ordinary winemaking techniques (combining sugar in the form of grapes and yeast, which results in alcohol and CO2), but is made special by not allowing the resulting gas to escape.
When wine is created by fermenting in a closed environment, the CO2 gas returns into the wine, creating sparkling wine. This gas is released in the tell-tale sparkling wine bubbles after popping the cork.
Sparkling wine is created in regions throughout the whole world, everywhere from Champagne to Tasmania and Austria to Oregon.
But the only sparkling wine that can be called Champagne is produced in the Champagne region. Even French sparkling wine produced outside the region of Champagne cannot be called Champagne.

3 Most Popular Sparkling Wines That Are Not Champagne

The most popular non-Champagne sparkling wines are Cava, Prosecco, and Cremant.

1. Prosecco comes from the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, and is produced mainly from the prosecco or glera grape.

2. Cava comes from Spain, and is produced mainly in the Catalonia region with macabeo, parallada, and xarel-lo grapes.

3. Cremant comes from France (like Champagne), but is produced in the regions of Alsace, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Jura, Limoux, and Loire.

It is made from a wide variety of grapes including pinot blanc, auxerrois, pinot gris, pinot noir, and Riesling. The production process is quite similar to Champagne’s, however the result is less bubbly.
An excellent example of a great Cremant is this Cremant de Limoux Rose. At only £14, this sparkling wine is an absolute steal and an excellent value!

Champagne

All Champagne falls into the broad category of sparkling wine, however not all sparkling wine can be called Champagne.
Champagne is only the sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France, where the Méthode Champenoise unique method of winemaking started being used in the 19th century (see the oldest champagne bottle).
Champagne is, therefore, a sparkling wine categorized by two main factors: the region where it is produced (called Champagne) and the special wine making process used to make it (called Méthode Champenoise).

Champagne Grapes & Recommendations

Authentic Champagne can only be produced within the Champagne region of France, and must be made with chardonnay, pinot noir, and/or pinot meunier grapes.
This Tattinger Comtes de Champagne, 2004 is an excellent example in terms of value (priced at just £60), while this Krug, 1996 and this Dom Perignon Rose, 2002 are fine examples of exceptional quality Champagne.
The historical beverage of choice for kings, the Champagne Cristal is yet another example of exceptional quality. You can find more fine champagne recommendations in this article.

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine

Regardless of which of the two you prefer most, you can always find a comprehensive selection of some of the world’s best Champagnes and sparkling wines in our online wine shop – all just a few clicks away from arriving at your doorstep!
Additionally, if you have any wine related questions or queries, please feel free to contact us at any time. Our experts will respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Cat Klein

Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: What You Should Know | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: What You Should Know | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Holiday Wine Pairing: How to Choose Wine for Your Dinner | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Holiday Wine Pairing: How to Choose Wine for Your Dinner | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants